Actress Blake Lively has won a partial legal victory after a judge ordered Wayfarer Studios to pay her attorneys' fees incurred in defending an unsuccessful defamation lawsuit filed by Justin Baldoni.
Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Lively is entitled to defense costs under a 2023 California law, which is designed to protect people who report sexual assault from retaliation through defamation lawsuits.
However, Liman rejected her claim for treble damages and punitive damages, stating that such measures were not provided for by federal law.
The "It Ends With Us" stars had previously settled all other disputes in the lengthy and costly legal battle, just two weeks before the trial began in federal court in New York. The only outstanding issue was Lively's claim for attorney fees under the Survivors' Protection from Abuse of Defamation Laws Act.
The actress accused Baldoni, who also directed the film, of sexual harassment on set, as well as launching an online campaign against her after she complained about his behavior.
Baldoni and his associates at Wayfarer Studios responded with a defamation lawsuit, claiming that the actress fabricated the allegations in order to gain control of the film.
His lawsuit was dismissed a year ago, after a court ruled that Lively's claims were protected by legal privileges relating to court proceedings.
The actress then filed a lawsuit seeking attorney fees, treble damages, and punitive damages under the California law. That lawsuit was still pending when the lawsuit was settled in May, with Lively receiving no monetary compensation for her claims.
As part of the agreement, both parties agreed to accept Judge Liman's decision on costs and not appeal it.
In a statement released by her lawyers, Blake Lively's team declared the decision a victory.
"Today's ruling clearly demonstrates that Ms. Lively made her claims in good faith, that there is no evidence that she acted maliciously, and that she is the successful party in the proceedings under Article 47.1," they said.
On the other hand, Baldoni's lawyer pointed out that 10 of the actress's 13 claims were dismissed before the settlement, while she withdrew the remaining three without any financial compensation.
“She then tried to use a California law that was enacted to protect actual victims, in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain damages,” Baldoni’s attorney said.
"Once again, she failed. Ms. Lively was awarded only limited attorneys' fees for one point in a case that lasted only a few months - nothing more," he added.
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